Steve Norn, MLA for Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh, will hold a virtual press conference this afternoon, Nov. 18, but at least one Northern media outlet wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be taking part.
Or will it?
A short announcement from the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories indicated the video call with reporters would take place at 4 p.m. There was no other information offered.
The announcement comes less than 24 hours after Ronald Barclay, the SA国际影视传媒渏udgeSA国际影视传媒� who held the inquiry into the conduct complaint against Norn, released his disposition recommending Norn be ejected from the Legislative Assembly and his seat vacated.
But Cabin Radio was initially disallowed from taking part. Ollie Williams, CabinSA国际影视传媒檚 head of programming and news, reported Thursday afternoon that Legislative Assembly communications manager Nicole Bonnell informed a journalist with the outlet of the decision in an email in response to their request for the login details to the conference.
SA国际影视传媒淢r Norn has advised that he does not want Cabin Radio to attend todaySA国际影视传媒檚 press conference,SA国际影视传媒� Bonnell wrote, according to Cabin. SA国际影视传媒淧lease reach out to him directly if you would like to request a comment.SA国际影视传媒�
Reached by phone, Williams said he wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 commenting on the decision. But minutes later, he confirmed with SA国际影视传媒 that the ban had been rescinded.
Forget the press conference, Norn could be banned from the legislature
In his closing remarks at the end of the hearing, NornSA国际影视传媒檚 defence lawyer, Steven Cooper, argued his client was under extreme stress during the period of 2021 under scrutiny, April, when he returned from a trip to Alberta and visited the Legislative Assembly and a Yellowknife gym before the end of his 14-day isolation period. He said Norn should face a reprimand and nothing more.
Read more: Norn accused of threatening colleagues in group message
Read more: Health investigators colour-coded Norn timeline to keep his story straight
Barclay rejected that argument, writing Norn breached SA国际影视传媒渆very aspectSA国际影视传媒� of sections 2 and 8 of that code by violating his Covid-19 isolation protocol then misleading MLAs, public health investigators, members of the media and the public about it.
SA国际影视传媒淢r. Norn has betrayed the trust and confidence of the public contrary to (section 8) of the Code of Conduct,SA国际影视传媒� he writes on page 87 of his report. SA国际影视传媒淢r. NornSA国际影视传媒檚 actions fall far below the standard set out in the Code of Conduct.SA国际影视传媒�
Barclay wrote that the only SA国际影视传媒渁ppropriate remedySA国际影视传媒� is for MLAs to expel Norn from the Legislature and declare his seat vacant.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 up to MLAs what happens to Norn next. They could fine him up to $25,000, a penalty Cooper warned would be SA国际影视传媒渞uinousSA国际影视传媒� to Norn, suspend him from the Legislature or eject him permanently as Barclay recommended. They are obligated to deal with BarclaySA国际影视传媒檚 recommendation within 14 days now that it has been delivered to the Speaker of the House, Frederick Blake Jr.
The Legislature will be back in session Monday, Nov. 22.
